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Facing criticism for rejecting (and later approving) a number of caricature-based iPhone apps, Apple has changed it’s terms and conditions to specifically exempt professional satirists. As reported by The Daily Cartoonist the two new clauses in their guidelines for new apps read:

14.1 Any app that is defamatory, offensive, mean-spirited, or likely to place the targeted individual or group in harms way will be rejected

14.2 Professional political satirists and humorists are exempt from the ban on offensive or mean-spirited commentary

Apple had claimed that the app “contains content that ridicules public figures” and is in violation of “the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement”. That is no longer the case and it appears that the online reaction to the news may have played a part in getting the decision overturned.

Ray Griggs, who produced and financed the app, called Bobble Reps, said: “I would like thank all of the websites, news stations, Twitter, Facebook, internet bloggers, and email sources that showed their support.”

MAD Magazine caricaturist Tom Richmond reports on his blog how technology firm Apple has refused to allow an iPhone application featuring caricatures of the US Congress to be sold through its iTunes store.

Richmond’s application or App, which is called called Bobble Rep, allows users to find the names and contact details for any of the 540 US congressmen and women currently in office. It was rejected on the grounds that it “contains content that ridicules public figures and is in violation of Section 3.3.14 from the iPhone Developer Program License Agreement.”

All iPhone applications have to be approved by Apple before they can be sold and installed on individual iPhones or iPod Touch. This decision may set a precedent for other cartoonists keen on moving into the lucrative iPhone app market.

Since posting about this on Monday, Richmond’s story has been picked up by columnists for CNN, the New York Times and MacWorld. US cartoon agency Cagle.com has also revealed it has a product in development with Apple.

Alex, the satirical City strip in the Daily Telegraph has recently made it’s debut on the iPhone and iPod Touch. Priced at 59p, the Tapisodes app is available at the iTunes App Store and comprises 20 animated strips themed around the credit crunch crisis. The strips will be automatically delivered to your phone one a day over the course of the following month. This video explains it all:

How long did it take to make the 20 special episodes of Alex for the iphone?

2 months.

Why is getting Alex distributed this way important to you?

We’re always looking for new ways to present work and new people to work with. We did the stage play last couple of years using new digital projection technology. Now fascinated by small screen possibilities for narrative. I actually believe that this is the ideal form for reading comic strip material: the movement, reactions, reveals all enhanced by this medium. Newspapers are also interested in spreading into this field. Seems like a good moment.

Did you do the technological work yourselves? Or, did you use a design agency?

We designed the app and did all the animation. The app itself was developed by the awesome folks at Tag Games in Dundee.

Is the price of the App (59p) reflective of the work that went into making it?

Absolutely not. Christ, you have NO IDEA.

How many downloads have been made during the month trial?

We are not allowed to give out this information, I’m afraid, since we are releasing this first project via our friends at The Telegraph.

Do you have any plans to take the digital Alex to a subscription site?

Never say never.

So, Alex doesn’t prefer a Blackberry?

Of course he has both (plus a spare and several spare sim cards for when he’s up to no good)

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